A soldier stabbed his girlfriend to death in front of their four-year-old son who was found crying and screaming ‘Daddy’s killed Mummy’, a court heard.

Lance Corporal Ian Lowe, 25, is alleged to have kicked down the door to Leanne McNuff's home and stabbed her repeatedly in a ‘deliberate and unprovoked attack’ at the top of the stairs before stamping on her face.

The couple’s son, Jaden, was at Miss McNuff’s home in Droylsden, Greater Manchester, at the time of the attack in March this year.

Family: Soldier Ian Lowe girlfriend Leanne McNuff, who he allegedly stabbed to death after finding out she had terminated their unborn baby, and their son Jaden

Father figure: Ian Lowe with his son Jaden when he was just three months old

The boy later said to his grandmother, who lived next door and rushed to give CPR: 'Can you help mummy, Nana?'

Manchester Crown Court heard Mr Lowe, a lance corporal with 1st Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, had discovered that Leanne, 24, had aborted their second child when he hacked into her Facebook account.

It is also alleged that he discovered on the day she was killed that Leanne had started a relationship with another man.

Lowe, who had been in a stormy, on-off relationship with Leanne since 2006, was on bail at the time of the murder after being charged with assaulting her in February.

He has admitted a charge of manslaughter but denies murder, claiming Leanne lunged at him with the knife and he wrestled it from her grasp.

Victim: Leanne McNuff was killed in March this year after her ex-boyfriend learned that she had an abortion, a court heard

The court was told how Leanne was found in a pool of blood by her brother, Ryan McNuff, on Sunday, March 11.

'Ryan McNuff checked the living room and, on discovering that it was empty, ran quickly upstairs where he discovered the body of his sister lying on the landing.'

The jury was told that Leanne’s mother, Margaret McNuff, then ran inside and found her grandson standing at the top of the stairs wearing his pyjamas.

He said ‘Can you help Mummy, Nana?’, the court was told.

The court heard that a neighbour, Sheila Holland, ran to help and agreed to take care of the child before police and paramedics arrived.

Mr Flewitt said: 'Once inside Jaden said to Sheila Holland, ‘Sheila, do
you know my Daddy? He has killed my Mummy and she is all red’.'

The
jury was told that Lowe, who was based at Army barracks in Catterick,
North Yorkshire, and had started a relationship with another woman, ran
to the home of his mother, Lorraine Lowe, and confessed.

Mr Lowe
is alleged to have told Mrs Lowe: 'I booted the front door in.He was
in the front room and Leanne was at the top of the stairs, shouting at
me to get out. I ran up, stabbed her four times and I stamped on her
face.'

Mr Lowe, who the jury was told had been drinking at
Droylsden Labour Club before the stabbing, was arrested and told police:
'Okay no problem. I’ve been at the pub all night' and then asked after
his son.

The jury was told of Leanne’s horrific stab and stamp injuries, including marks on her hands where she fought to save her life.

Mr Flewitt said ‘patterned bruises’ caused by the impact of the sole of a shoe were found on her face.

Killed: Leanne McNuff was repeatedly stabbed and stamped on by her former boyfriend, Ian Lowe, after he discovered she had terminated their unborn baby, a court was told

He
added: 'Although it is not likely that these blows accelerated Leanne
McNuff’s death, they could have rendered her unconscious or dazed,
making her less capable of defending herself from attack.'

The court heard that, when the pair
met at Miss McNuff's home to discuss the pregnancy on February 18, a
violent row broke out during which Lowe called Miss McNuff a
'prostitute' and accused her of 'sleeping around'.

Break up: Leanne McNuff and Lowe had been dating since 2006 but broke up a month before the killing in March this year

As Miss McNuff tried to force him out
of the house, Lowe is said to have grabbed her by the thoat and begun
'shaking her from side to side'.

In a statement given to police at the time, Miss McNuff recalled: 'He’s shaking me from side to side and I’m almost on the floor.

'I’ve lost my footing but being held up by Ian gripping my clothing and he’s shaking me about.